"Although many people support me, most of them are from the lower classes. But in the eyes of the Empire's upper nobles and officials, I have become an obstacle standing in the way of their interests!"
"Even..."
Noticing Kureha's confusion, Freia began to speak of her helplessness and difficulties.
On the surface, it seemed that the entire nation supported her. But once she touched upon those nobles' interests, even she could do nothing.
The Empire had become what it was today not because of a small number of people, but because the entire upper class had already rotted away! They had formed a bloc of shared interests, one that even she, as both a Hero and a princess, could not shake.
Even her father, who appeared to support her, was in truth only using her status as a Hero. He wanted to obtain the Philosopher's Stone left behind after the Demon King's death and gain eternal life.
He had never considered passing down the throne!
So what Kureha had thought before—that once Princess Freia inherited the throne, the Empire could change—was simply unrealistic.
The old king wanted immortality. He had never intended to abdicate.
In other respects, those people had already extended their hands right before her. Even Freia, as a princess, was powerless against this enormous collective of interests.
After all, the greatest beneficiary and leader of that interest group was her father, the old king of this nation.
And Freia's father controlled several Heroes under his command... Freia was only one Hero, a princess who could be discarded at any time. What could she use to fight the old king?
"So all of this... was actually Your Highness's own choice?!"
"Even you are powerless to change our country any further? His Majesty... supported you becoming a princess and